What is an infinite loop?

An infinite loop is defined as a loop that continues to execute indefinitely, without a termination condition being met. This typically occurs when the loop's exit criteria are never satisfied, often due to flawed logic within the program or a failure to update loop control variables.

In practical terms, an infinite loop can arise in various programming scenarios. For example, if a loop checks a condition that is always true or if there is no update to the variable being tested, the loop will keep running. This situation can lead to a program becoming unresponsive and can consume excessive system resources, making it essential for developers to implement proper exit conditions to avoid such loops.

The other choices each describe different types of loops. One describes a loop that executes a single iteration, another mentions a loop running a predetermined number of times, and the last refers to loops that can be exited based on specific conditions—all of which do not capture the essence of an infinite loop.